Folding seat or commode



(N0 Mqdel.)

J. W. BOWEN.

FOLDING SEAT 0R GOMMODE.

No. 439,797. Patented Nov. 4, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. BQIVEN, OF JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS.

FO LDlNG S EAT OR COMMODE.

srncrrronrron' forming art of Letters Patent No. 439,797, dated November4, 1890.

Application filed January 30, 1890. Serial No. 338,697. (No model.) V

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. zen of the United States, residing at Jack'sonville, in the county of Morgan and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Im provements in Folding Seats orCommodes, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a cheap and simple stool orchair which can be readily folded into a compact form when not in use,and which is especially adapted for the use of infants and invalids as acommode. This object I accomplish by the use of the construction shownin the accompanying drawings; and the invention consists in certainnovel features hereinafter first fully described, and then pointed outin the claims.

In the drawings referred to, Figure 1 is a central vertical section ofmy improved chair. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is aplan view thereof. Figs. 4 and 5 are respectively a plan and edge viewof the seat folded, and Fig. 6 is a detail view.

In carrying out my invention I construct the seat proper A of a seriesof sections or members, which are pivoted together at their ends byrule-joints, as shown at D, so that they may be folded intosubstantially a straight line when not in use, as shown in Fig. 4. Theinner edges of the sections or members are concave, as clearly shown, sothat when they are extended into their operative positions an opening isformed in the seat, as is usual in chairs of this character. It will beobserved upon reference to Figs. 1 and 3 that the sections or members ofthe seat are arranged in two sets or series, which are joined by thehinges E, so that the sections may not only be folded into a straightline, but may be also swung toward each other, thus folding the seatupon its central transverse diameter, as indicated in dotted lines inFig. 4.

To the outer edge of the front central section or member of the seat Isecure a crossbar I, from the front and rear sides of which curtains oraprons H J depend. These curtains hide the vessel placed beneath theseat, and the outer curtain is provided near its edge with the holes 12,and is adapted to be folded over upon the seat to hide the openingtherein when it is desired to use the device as a chair,

BOWEN, a citi'.

being secured in this position by engaging the holes Z7 over the buttonsa on the rear seat-sections The seat is supported in position for use bythe standards B, to which a flexible curtain or cover 0 is secured. Thestandards extend above and below the seat, and the curtain or cover isequal in its vertical dimension to the length of the standards, so thatit extends below the seat to hide the'vessel placed beneath the same,and also extends above the seat to form a support for the back of theperson using the device. The curtain is made of leather, canvas, orother flexible material, so that when the device is not in use thecurtain can be detached and rolled around the seat to form a neat andcompact bundle. The rear or central standards are provided with the lugsF on their inner sides, and the seat is supported at its rear edge byresting on said lugs. The front or end standards are provided withvertical longitudinal slots K, and these slots are engaged by theT-shaped or headed studs or lugs G at the ends of the cross-bar I tosecure the said bar and standards together, and thereby support thefront edge of the seat. The manner of connecting and disconnecting thebar I and the standards will be readily understood upon reference toFig. 6. The seat and cross-bar are turned to such a position that thestuds or lugs G will coincide with the slots K, after which thestandards are moved toward the ends of the bar, thereby causing theslots to pass over studs when the seat is turned to a horizontalposition, bringing the studs to a position at right angles to the slotsand preventing their accidental disengagement.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a very cheapand simple chair or seat, which can be readily folded into a compactbundle when not in use, and which will be firmly supported when set upfor use.

The construction of my device is such that it is especially adapted forthe use of infants and invalids, and its advantages are thought to beobvious.

It will be observed that in my device the curtain or cover, when thechair is in use, ef= fectually hides the vessel beneath the same aroundthe folded seat, as will be readily understood, to serve as a cover andform a neat and compact bundle.

The device is very simple in its construction and can be manufacturedand sold at a small cost.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, 1s-

1. A folding seat for commodes, consisting of aseries of sectionsarranged in two sets,

the sets being connected at both ends by hinges, whereby they may beswung back upon each other, and the sections of each set being pivotedtogether, whereby they may be turned back into a substantially straightline or turned forward so as to form a semicircle, as specified.

2. The combination of the foldable seat, the I cross-bar secured to thefront edge of the same and having T'shaped studs at its ends, and thestandards provided with slots adapted to engage said studs, as setforth.

3. The combination of the series of standards, the central or rearstandards having lugs on their inner sides and the front standardshaving longitudinal slots, the foldable seat adapted to rest upon saidlugs at its rear edge, and the cross-bar secured to the front edge ofthe seat and provided with studs at its ends adapted to engage the slotsin the front standards, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of twowitnesses.

. JOHN W. BOWEN.

Witnesses:

CHARLES A. BARNES, A. R. GREGORY.

